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S. Van Mierlo

Summary of the Divine
Plan

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The Message of the Kingdom

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Three Spheres

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Alphabetical Analysis

Also -

HOPE

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THE ABOVE HEAVENS

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"Practical Truth in
Ephesians"

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A Study in Pentecost

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Heavenly Places

by Charles H. Welch
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The One Great
Subject of

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RIGHT DIVISION

By Charles H.
Welch

RIGHT DIVISION

by E.W.
Bullinger

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by Tom Ballinger

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The Foundations of Dispensational Truth

Introduction To Acts 28

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ACTS
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None Other Things

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"Written"

Dispensational Outline Of The Books Of The N.T.

75 DIFFICULT
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Gementria in Christ's
Geneaolgy

A New Creation

by E.W. Bullinger

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (II
Corinthians 5:17).

The Scriptures reveal to us many new things. In Isaiah 42:9, we read:
"New things do I declare"; and God goes on to speak of the new song which
is to be sung in view of His work for restored Israel. We read in
Lamentations 3:22,23, "The Lord's mercies are new every morning." We read
in Ezekiel 36:26, of "a new heart and a new spirit."
In the text before
us we read of the new creature. We read in Ephesians 2:15, of "the one new
man"; in Revelation 21 and 22, of "the new heavens and the new earth,"
also of "the new Jerusalem," and of a glorious time when it will be said,
"Behold, I make all things new." Perhaps the most important of all these
wondrous things is that which is spoken of in our text, because without
this new creation, none of the other new things can be known or enjoyed.
Having this, we have all the others.

The contrasts, old and
new

Let us consider, first of all, the contrasts -- Old and New. The Second
Epistle to the Corinthians seems to be an Epistle of contrasts; it abounds
in them from beginning to end. Led by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul
contrasts, in chapter 1:5, the sufferings which abound in the child of God
with the consolations which abound in Christ. At the close of chapter 2,
verse 16, we meet with a very solemn contrast, which is seen by the
spiritual eye throughout the whole of God's Word. True, the carnal mind
objects to, indeed hates, such contrasts between the living and the dead,
between the regenerate and the unregenerate; but the Holy Spirit
invariably marks these contrasts, and those who are taught by Him see them
and love them (see verse 14). Note again, in verse 15, another contrast
"We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in
them that perish." It is we, not our testimony. The burden of the Word of
the Lord showed the Apostle his insufficiency, while at the same time he
knew that his sufficiency was of God.
The third chapter is full of
contrasts; in verse 1 we have man's commendation and God's commendation;
in verse 2 and 3, man's writing and the Spirit's writing; in verse 5,
man's insufficiency and God's sufficiency; in verse 6 the letter and the
spirit; in verses 7-9, condemnation and righteousness. The fourth chapter
contains many wonderful contrasts and paradoxes; in verse 8, "We are
troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair." One may say, "Ah! that is not I"; but look at the margin, "But
not altogether without help." Can we not say that ? Verse 9: "Cast down,
but not destroyed." We do fall, but not from grace, being upheld by "a
Loving Omnipotent Hand." At the end of the chapter again we see wonderful
contrasts; in verse 16, our outward man perishing, but our inward man
renewed day by day; in verse 17 our present light affliction, our future
weight of glory; in verse 18, temporal things and eternal things: things
seen and things unseen.
Each of these leads us to the contemplation of
the words of our text. In considering this vast and important subject,
note:

1. The Connection

"Therefore" (Verse 17). This is the conclusion of the Spirit's
argument, or of the truths He had declared for the instruction, the
comfort, and the edification of the saints at Corinth, and through them to
the Church of God in all succeeding generations. His conclusion is that
all old things, even those of Divine appointment, having served their
purpose and waxen old, must pass away for ever, as of no value whatever in
comparison with the eternal work of the new creation in Christ Jesus. Note
next:

2. The Character of those spoken
of

"If any man be in Christ." Observe, [in the King James Version] there
are words in italics which may be differently supplied thus: "If any man
in Christ be made a new creature," or a new creation; the R.V. margin
gives: "there is a new creation." Now creation is a Divine work,
and therefore this excludes all means, all modes, all distinctions.
Truth by the Holy Ghost is a great leveller. Turn to Galatians 3:28 and
6:15. The new creation does not consist in an acknowledgement of a form of
sound words, or delight in a clear creed, or in prizing the outward
so-called means of grace. It is ten thousand times more than these. The
cross of Christ is God's monument erected over the grave of all carnal
ordinances, all sensuous ceremonies, all fleshly sacrifices, all earthly
types, all fleeting shadows. The cross of Christ is God's monument over
the grave where He has buried all human distinctions, all human modes, all
human means in matters pertaining to His creation work.
IN CHRIST. This
is a living union by the Spirit of God. It is not a mere profession of
religion; it is not in self-condemnation but in Christ, justified and
accepted (Ephesians 1:6). It is not in Adam dead, but in Christ alive (I
Corinthians 15:22). In Christ by sovereign purpose; in Christ by sacred
purchase; in Christ by spiritual power. Next look at:

3. The Condition

"A New Creation." What is it to create ? Not to change, not to
renovate, not to reform, not to improve, not the old nature adorned and
beautified, not the flesh with its corruptions and lusts trimmed and
trained; but it is the new and Divine nature imparted, with all its
spiritual blessings and holy privileges. It is not the Old Adam made clean
or religious, clothed and adorned. No! It is a something altogether NEW.
Therefore, in Christ Jesus I am a partaker of the Divine nature; I am a
partaker of His Resurrection-life, according to the Father's promise:
"Eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world
began" (Titus 1:2).
Life was promised in Christ for His people before
the world began; and in due time it is communicated to them through the
ministry of the Word. How this is brought about, the poor child of
God very often, knows not, and when questioned about it, he can only say,
like the blind man in John 9:25: "One thing I know, that, whereas I was
blind, now I see." Once I was blind and dead to God's Christ, God's
covenant, God's salvation; I was dead to all interest in the precious
atoning blood, to justifying righteousness, regenerating grace, and
restoring mercy, also to that peace ,which passeth all understanding. But
now, in living union with Christ, I love to dwell on those glorious
verities which are found alone in Him and through Him. I love the company
of those who delight in the Father's eternal love, the son's redeeming
grace, and the Spirit's regenerating mercy.
A new Divine nature (II
Peter 1:4) is not a mere influence, is not a mere passing religious
feeling induced by ravishing music or pathetic story, but a real existence
in living union with a crucified, risen, exalted, glorified, coming Lord.
What a glorious union! One with the person of a glorified Christ! No words
can describe it better than John 17:21-23: "That they all may be one; as
Thou Father art in Me, and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us,
that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which
Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one even as We are one.
I in Thee, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that
the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them as Thou
hast loved Me" (John 17:22,23).
This is a glorious, marvellous,
mysterious Oneness, which can never be understood until we stand perfect
and complete in the light of His glory. Then we shall know even as we are
known, for His Father is our Father; His righteousness is our
righteousness; His nature is our nature; His home is our home; His glory
is our glory.

4. The Deliverances
Enjoyed

"Old things are passed away." What are these "old things ? " (1).
Blessed be God, that old thing, SIN, which before I was in Christ
manifested its power and maintained its authority over me, is gone --
passed away. Do you ask, How did it pass away ? I can answer you only in
the words of Isaiah 53:6, "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us
all"; and Hebrews 9:26, "Now once in the end of the world hath He
appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."
(2). That old
thing, THE CURSE OF THE LAW, has passed away. How? Read Galatians 3:13:
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for
us. for it is written 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.'" In
thus becoming a curse for His people, He became "The end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4). What expressive
words! "The end of the law!" What does it mean? Why it means that He went
to the end of all the Law's requirements, which He satisfied by the
perfect obedience which He rendered to its precepts; that He went to the
end of all the Law's penal threatenings which He silenced by the
sufferings which He endured. What is the end of a debt? The payment! And
Christ took over and paid every debt owed by His people, and thus ended
it. Hence every transgression and even sin over which my chastened Spirit
has grieved, is passed away !
(3). That old thing, CONDEMNATION. All
that was due to me was borne by my sinless Surety, by Him who said, when
they sought and found Him: "If ye seek Me, let these go their way" (John
18:8). Hence: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in
Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
(4). That old thing, FEAR OF DEATH, is
passed away, for "Jesus Christ... hath abolished death, and brought life
and immortality to light by the Gospel" (II Timothy 1:10). Christ hath
abolished death, and brought to light, and procured for us, life
and immortality; and "When Christ, who is our Life shall appear, then
shall ye also appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:4). Yes, old things
have passed away. My old notions of salvation by merit; by co-operation --
I doing something and Jesus Christ the rest -- all such thoughts have
passed away! My old, degrading views of Christ have passed away in the
light of His Glorious Gospel, and I see Him "altogether lovely," His
salvation perfect, His righteousness complete, His intercession
all-prevailing, His glorious coming sure. He is the beginner and the
finisher of faith, the performer of all things for me in the presence of
His Father and mine.
Look now at:

5. The Privileges
Possessed

"Behold all things are become new." Yes, the man in Christ is a new
man, with a new life in a new world. "All things are become new." He has
life in Christ, he has immortality in Christ. He has life instead of
death, salvation instead of sin, justification instead of condemnation,
acceptance instead of banishment, peace instead of enmity. We have new
affections, fixed upon things above; new hopes, entering within the veil;
a new song put in our mouth; and a new heart with which to praise Him for
setting our feet on the Rock of Ages, for ordering our goings, for holding
our hand, for guiding our feet into the way of peace.
May it be ours to
know the blessedness and power of these divinely "new things," and to go
on our way rejoicing, while waiting for that great proclamation to go
forth -- "Behold I make all things new," and walking in newness of life,
to the praise and glory of God.